The Western Australian contingent has continued to succeed at the Queensland Championships, with a focus on backstroke events that have seen athletes competing for medals.
Iona Anderson (Breakers/WAIS) secured a fourth-place finish in the 200m Backstroke A Final. Narrowly missing her personal best by 0.08 seconds, Anderson's performance positions her as a key athlete to watch at the upcoming WA Championships this week. Alyssa Burgess (Breakers/WAIS) also made a mark, claiming seventh place in the same event, surpassing her morning heat time. This championship holds significant importance for both Anderson and Burgess as they gear up for the crucial Olympic Trials in June 2024.
Isabel Sheldrick (Fenix, c: Deb Jones) secured a fifth-place finish in the fiercely contested 16 years 100m Backstroke category. Facing off against notable talents like St Peters Western star Jaclyn Barclay, Sheldrick's consistent improvement is evident, fuelled by a strong in-season performance during the week in Queensland.
Johann Szymanski (Highlanders, c: Ryan Steenkamp) and Inez Miller (Fenix, c: Deb Jones) displayed their strengths in freestyle events, with Szymanski claiming sixth place in the Open 800m freestyle and Miller securing a sixth-place finish in the highly competitive 17-18 years 200m freestyle race. Szymanski came exceptionally close to his 18 years WA All-Time record, trailing by just 0.5 seconds. The experience gained from competing against World Record holders and Olympic medallists sets the stage for their aspirations in benchmark events in 2024.
As the majority of the Western Australian contingent returns to Perth, they are swiftly preparing for the upcoming Hancock Prospecting State Championships this week. Spectators are encouraged to head to HBF Stadium over the weekend to witness the performances of WA's swimming stars, including newly minted Dolphin Jack Wilson and the current World Record holder Joshua Yong.
